Yamaha SLB300 Silent Bass for sale - one month old! £2500 Tenterden, Kent

[Oakwood]

I am selling here a "brand new" Yamaha SLB300 Silent Bass which was imported direct to me from a Yamaha dealer in Japan and safely delivered on 18 September this year. I would like to explain the background to this and why I am now selling this amazing instrument which I have only owned for one month.

 

I am in the process of upgrading my acoustic double bass and have long admired the SLB300 having seen numerous videos of these and the professional musicians that rate this bass so highly (Chris Minh Doky name but one). So I decided that I would do both! I searched for one in the UK and discovered that seem to be permanently in short supply (even from the London Yamaha shop). Where the bass was in stock, the price ranged between £3300 and £3500. This led me to purchase one direct from Japan and the process was relatively straightforward although the import duties and VAT needed to be paid before this could clear customs.

 

Since delivery of the bass, I have taken this out of the box once and assembled it (end pin and extension frame) and played it once. It looks and sounds as good as I expected. It is in immaculate condition and as it was when delivered. But reality has hit home and keeping this and an acoustic base is probably too much in terms of the space I have, the small practice amp I use and the fact that I do not need to transport a base around which is really a major benefit of the Yamaha.  Hence my decision to sell. All in all, I think I just got carried away!

 

I still have the option of returning the bass to Japan (at the suppliers expense) but the HMRC rules for refunding the VAT and import duties are quite difficult to navigate (which I didn’t know when I purchased) and so it is easier to keep the bass and find a better home for it here in the UK. I am actually selling this for less than my total purchase costs but still significantly below the retail price in the UK and I would be happy to provide all paperwork to a potential purchaser to substantiate the above. You would also be most welcome to call and see the bass before purchasing. I am based in Tenterden in Kent.

 

Apologies for the long winded explanation but I felt the circumstances warranted this. I am selling this for £2500.

 

I could attach numerous pictures but anyone who wants one of these would likely be very familiar with these and usually pictures are used to show the condition which doesn't really apply here as it is new and still in the box. Nevertheless I have attached a few generic pictures just for good measure plus one showing the bag and packaging (no stand included).

 

Any questions, just let me know. Thanks. Brian.

[Beedster]

I honestly think the best bet is to send it back and claim from HMRC, it's a pain but it can be done. The last SLB300 that sold here was quite a lot lower in price, I suspect that you may struggle to get what you want, even though it's no doubt worth every penny and lower than retail price. 

 

Should also add that if you do go ahead with the sale you will need to post photos of the actual bass, I recognise it's new but c'est la vie 

 

Good luck 👍

[bassace]

4 hours ago, Beedster said:

I honestly think the best bet is to send it back and claim from HMRC, it's a pain but it can be done. The last SLB300 that sold here was quite a lot lower in price, I suspect that you may struggle to get what you want, even though it's no doubt worth every penny and lower than retail price. 

 

Should also add that if you do go ahead with the sale you will need to post photos of the actual bass, I recognise it's new but c'est la vie 

 

Good luck 👍

Harsh!

[Beedster]

11 minutes ago, bassace said:

Harsh!

 

Probably, but the timeline for return will close pretty soon so it might be the best option for the OP, because it's a niche instrument in a niche market at the best of economic times and this ain't the best of economic times 

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

 

Probably, but the timeline for return will close pretty soon so it might be the best option for the OP, because it's a niche instrument in a niche market at the best of economic times and this ain't the best of economic times 

Not harsh. The best way to get the most cash back.